Compare towns
Salem vs Chaplin vs Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Salem | Chaplin | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282 |
2,070Lowest |
6,130Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
41.8±4.7 about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$142,105±$35kHighest 48% above CT |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$379,100±$33k 3% above CT |
| Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,333±$438Lowest 10% below CT |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668 about the CT average |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,397Highest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 19% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #11 of 149 in CT | — | #52 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.